Appalachian State University’s Office of Arts and Cultural Programs presents APPlause! APPlause! K-12 Performing Arts Series Friday, March 16, 2018 Golden Dragon Acrobats from China School Bus As an integral part of the Performing Arts Series, APPlause! matinées offer a variety of performances at venues across the Appalachian State University campus that feature university-based artists as well as local, regional and world-renowned professional artists. These affordable performances offer access to a wide variety of art disciplines for K-12 students. The series also offers the opportunity for students from the Reich College of Education to view a field trip in action without having to leave campus. Among the 2017-2018 series performers, you will find those who will also be featured in the Performing Arts Series along with professional artists chosen specifically for our student audience as well as performances by campus groups. Before the performance... Familiarize your students with what it means to be a great audience member by introducing these theatre etiquette basics: • Arrive early enough to find your seats and settle in before the show begins (20- 30 minutes). • Remember to turn your electronic devices OFF so they do not disturb the performers or other audience members. • Remember to sit appropriately and to stay quiet so that the audience members around you can enjoy the show too. PLEASE NOTE: *THIS EVENT IS SCHEDULED TO LAST APPROX 60 MINUTES. 10:00am – 11:00am • Audience members arriving by car should plan to park in the Rivers Street Parking Deck. There is a small charge for parking. Buses should plan to park along Rivers Street – Please indicate to the Parking and Traffic Officer when you plan to move your bus (i.e. right after the show, or after lunch) so that they can help keep everyone safe. • Adults meeting a school group at the show will be asked to sign in at the lobby and wait to be escorted to their group by a security guard. THANK YOU! Golden Dragon Acrobats from China The following study guide was provided by SRO Artists, Inc. on behalf of the Golden Dragon Acrobats. School Bus — Study Guide — Originally from Cangzhou, Hebei province, in the People’s Republic of China, the Golden Dragon Acrobats have toured for more than 30 years to international acclaim. They practice the rigorous art of Chinese Acrobatics, an art form that first became popular in China 2,500 years ago. The 25 acrobats are athletes, actors and artists who have trained since childhood. They will amaze your class with acrobatic feats they perform using their bodies and simple props including everyday objects like plates, jugs, bicycles, umbrellas and more. This study guide will prepare your students for their upcoming performance. Your students can actively participate at the performance by: • OBSERVING how the performers use their bodies • MARVELING at the skill demonstrated by the performers • THINKING ABOUT all the practice that goes into each act • REFLECTING on the sounds, sights, and performance skills on display at the theater — Table of Contents — Theater Etiquette .............................................................................. 1 About the Performance ................................................................... 2 About the Artists .............................................................................. 3 About the Art Form ......................................................................... 4 History of Chinese Acrobats ............................................................ 8 Learning Activities ......................................................................... 11 Glossary ........................................................................................... 13 1 Theater Etiquette Be prepared and arrive early. Ideally you should arrive at the theater 30 to 45 minutes before the show. Allow for travel time and parking, and plan to be in your seats at least 15 minutes before the performance begins. Be aware and remain quiet. The theater is a “live” space—you can hear the performers easily, but they can also hear you, and you can hear other audience members, too! Even the small- est sounds, like rustling papers and whispering, can be heard throughout the theater, so it’s best to stay quiet so that everyone can enjoy the performance without distractions. The international sign for “Quiet Please” is to silently raise your index finger to your lips. Show appreciation by applauding. Applause is the best way to show your enthusiasm and appreciation. Perform- ers return their appreciation for your attention by bowing to the audience at the end of the show. It is always appropriate to applaud at the end of a perfor- mance, and it is customary to continue clapping until the curtain comes down or the house lights come up. Participate by responding to the action onstage. Sometimes during a performance, you may respond by laughing, crying or sighing. By all means, feel free to do so! Appreciation can be shown in many different ways, depending upon the art form. For instance, an audience attend- ing a string quartet performance will sit very quietly, while the audience at a gospel concert may be inspired to participate by clapping and shouting. Concentrate to help the performers. Performers use concentration to focus their energy while on stage. If the audi- ence is focused while watching the performance, the artists feel supported and are able to do their best work. They can feel that you are with them. 1 2 About the Performance Guiding Questions: • What makes the Golden Dragon Acrobats performance special? • When do acrobats start training? • What are some of the things the acrobats will do at the performance? The performance will feature astounding acrobatics with theatrical enhance- ments and Chinese traditional dance. The group features contortionists, tum- blers and jugglers in acts such as plate-spinning, bicycle pagoda and juggling everything from balls to umbrellas using not only hands but feet. The acrobats will be seen perching atop a 30 foot tower of chairs, bending like rubber and balancing human pyramids while riding moving bicycles. With performers trained in the rigorous art of Chinese acrobatics since early youth, the Golden Dragon Acrobats have garnered international acclaim. 2 3 About the Artists The Golden Dragon Acrobats hail from Cangzhou, Hebei province, in the People’s Republic of China and have toured the United States continueously since 1978. Its 25 members are athletes, actors and artists who have studied and trained for their craft since early childhood. The group has performed in all 50 states and in over 65 countries across the world. The Golden Dragon Ac- robat troupe had its Broadway debut at the New Victory Theater in 2005, and was nominated for two Drama Desk Awards for its performance. The group’s founder, producer and director, Danny Chang, is one of the world’s leading promoters of Chinese acrobatics. He began his training at the age of eight with his family’s acrobatic school in Taipei, and began performing with its touring wing, the Golden Dragon Acrobats, at age ten. He is the recipien- tof many awards, including the prestigious Medal for International Faith and Goodwill by the Republic of China’s Coordination Council for North Ameri- can Affairs. — Staff for the Golden Dragon Acrobats — Producer, Director: Danny Chang Choreographer, Costume Designer: Angela Chang Administrative Director: Jessie Liu Technical Director: Randy Williamson Technical Assistant: Gregory Kouvolo — List of Performers — Male Female Tian Jun Zhang Shao Zheng Wang Yang Liu Qi Qi Hou Xiao Meng Guo Ping Gao Xian Yang Guo Ting Ting Zhong Jun Wei Zuo Guan Wei Zu Jun Hao Zuo Li Ying Yan Qiang Qiang Liu Hong Xing Chen Kai Zhang Ya Ru Wang 3 4 About the Art Form Guiding Questions: • What kinds of props do the acrobats use? • How is Chinese culture reflected in the performance? • What are the four basic acrobatic skills? Acrobatic acts have evolved throughout the history of China. China is credited with producing some of the best acrobats in the world. Chinese acrobats main- tain a notable style and standard routines. However, there are some similarities between the acrobatic schools of different countries. All recognizable circuses have juggling acts, trapeze acts, handstand acts and comic relief. Differences are reflected in theatrical presentation, including music, novelty acts such as clowns, and lighting. Signature Chinese Acrobatic acts: Hoop Diving: This act is over 2,000 years old. Also called “Dashing Through Narrows,” it was once known as “Swallow Play” because the performers imi- tated the fl ying movements of swallows (birds) as they leapt nimbly through narrow rings. Unicycle bowl flip: In a relatively new feat, an acrobat rides a very tall unicycle on a round table, kicking up bowls, kettles and spoons with perfect grace, and piling them on her head. 4 Chinese Vase: Acrobats playfully squeeze into tiny brightly colored vases as they perform tricky acrobatics—smiling all the while. Rolling Balance Contortionist: Graceful and beautiful bending and twist- ing into unbelievable knots, frequently while balancing precariously perched objects on every limb. Double Pole: A group of acrobats climb up and down thin poles demonstrat- ing agility and strength to execute a variety of dangerous movements. This act requires a tremendous amount of upper body and abdominal strength. Chinese Diablo: Performed in China for over 100 years, two sticks of bamboo are connected with string to spin an additional piece of wood (like a yo-yo) back and fourth in a variety of timed movements. The Chinese Diablo makes a whistling sound when it spins. Spinning plates: Performers use numerous long, pencil-thin sticks to support spinning plates that look like lotus leaves facing the wind or colorful butterflies flitting and dancing. This act is often combined with balancing and tumbling, as when a performer spins 12 china plates with both hands while in a head- stand on a rubber ball! 5 Chair stacking handstand: A collective act involving two to seven acrobats and as many or more chairs. While on a pa- goda or ladder of chairs, the performers practice handstands and other stunts requiring tremendous arm strength, as well as superior balancing skill. Bicycle: Acrobats ride together on a single bicycle, take it apart, turn it over a table and display a variety of postures, notably the beautiful tableau of a peacock fanning its feathers. Foot Juggling: Many different objects can be used in jug- gling. Jar juggling demonstrates simplicity and steadiness. Originally, peasants used grain containers to perform various feats in celebration of a bumper harvest. Later, jar tricks were adapted by acrobats and became one of their most popular entertainments. Performers lie on a special seat and juggle or catch objects with their feet. Long ago, in the Song Dynasty (960-1279), jugglers manipulated bottles, plates and jars with their feet. Now performers toss tables, umbrellas, rugs and any number of household items. Lion and Dragon acts: This act comes from Chinese folk dance developed from Buddhist beliefs. The lion represents the spirit of renewal and is revered for dispelling bad luck. Big Lion is played by two acrobats, while Small Lion is played by one. The lion rolls and jumps, exhibiting attributes such as strength, agility and tranquility. Accompanied by traditional percussion instruments, this act creates a jubilant and festive atmosphere. Acrobatic acts are performed either solo or in groups. Group acts require team cooperation, trust and constant communi- cation. The disadvantage of a group act is that when one per- former becomes incapacitated or decides to leave the group act, it puts the other acrobats at risk in their careers. It often happens that acrobats need to start over again. However, in creating a new act or learning a new specialty, an acrobat doesn’t need to spend two years learning the four basic acro- batic skills; tumbling, flexibilty, handstand, dance. 6